life, when his reading was much among books of this kind, fome of the divifions may be borrowed from other writers; tho he does not recollect any Extracts he believes there are none. that were. To thefe difcourfes are added a few little pieces, under the title of Hints for fermons.-The origin of them was this. It was long the author's practice when he walked about his parish, and afterwards when he was able only to walk into his garden and fields, to take with him in a memorandum-book, a text or two of fcripture, which he had before chofen on account of fome observations, which he thought arofe from it; or fome objection, which he thought might be answered, As he did not mean to carry his observations into length, he took only fuch texts, as he thought naturally opened themfelves; tho the subject sometimes carried him farther than he at firft intended. So that fome of them are very fhort; and others were the employment of feveral walks. From these hints the author commonly took his fermons and tho many of the fubjects are too critical-too refined-or too deep for a common audience audience; yet he always found among them a sub. ject for his purpofe. The reft, being left in the memorandum-book, increased into a large body. From this book thofe few which are printed at the end of the fermons, are taken. They are mere fketches; tho perhaps for that reafon, they may have more fpirit than finished pieces. The author enters into this detail with a modeft view of being of fervice to fuch of his younger brethren, as will purfue the mode of exercise which he here prefcribes; and of which he gives thefe examples. At first, it may be difficult to fix the mind on any fubject of meditation, amidst a variety of external objects. But a habit of thinking abroad will foon be formed; and when it is formed, the practice will certainly be followed with great advantage. If the young student spend two hours in a day in walking exercise, he will by this practice, fave to his ftudies at leaft feven hundred hours in a year. But he will fay perhaps, it is too great a tax upon his mind, in queft of amusement; and may deprive him of its end. Scholars will fometimes tell him, that even a fevere ftudy, is a relaxation from another fevere tudy, as it gives the mind a different ply. But in the the employment here recommended no intensity Nor is he fo tied down to any fubject, as not - The whole then amounts only to this that to The author mentioned his fermons, and his |